We present images of Jupiter’s northern UV aurorae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope as part of a large observing campaign in January 2014. The high time resolution observations allow the dynamics of ... [more ▼]

We present images of Jupiter’s northern UV aurorae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope as part of a large observing campaign in January 2014. The high time resolution observations allow the dynamics of the different components of the aurorae to be observed. Particular features of interest are large regions of diffuse emission, which occurred equatorward of the main oval, enveloping the auroral footprint of Ganymede. These diffuse, low latitude emissions are caused by the injection of hot plasma from the outer magnetosphere, a process which has previously been related to interchange between the flux tubes from the outer magnetosphere and outward-moving flux tubes loaded with iogenic plasma. Over the two-week observing interval the auroral signatures of two large injection events were observed, while the main oval generally decreased in intensity. We suggest that the overall dimming of the main oval results from the weakening of the corotation-enforcement currents that drive the main emission, following the replacement of the radially-stretched, mass-loaded flux tubes by more dipolar flux tubes containing rarefied hot plasma. [less ▲]

We present observations of significant dynamics within two UV auroral storms observed on Saturn using the Hubble Space Telescope in April/May 2013. Specifically, we discuss bursts of auroral emission ... [more ▼]

We present observations of significant dynamics within two UV auroral storms observed on Saturn using the Hubble Space Telescope in April/May 2013. Specifically, we discuss bursts of auroral emission observed at the poleward boundary of a solar wind-induced auroral storm, propagating at ˜330% rigid corotation from near ˜01 h LT toward ˜08 h LT. We suggest that these are indicative of ongoing, bursty reconnection of lobe flux in the magnetotail, providing strong evidence that Saturn's auroral storms are caused by large-scale flux closure. We also discuss the later evolution of a similar storm and show that the emission maps to the trailing region of an energetic neutral atom enhancement. We thus identify the auroral form with the upward field-aligned continuity currents flowing into the associated partial ring current. [less ▲]

Abstract Giant planets helped to shape the conditions we see in the Solar System today and they account for more than 99% of the mass of the Sun's planetary system. They can be subdivided into the Ice ... [more ▼]

Abstract Giant planets helped to shape the conditions we see in the Solar System today and they account for more than 99% of the mass of the Sun's planetary system. They can be subdivided into the Ice Giants (Uranus and Neptune) and the Gas Giants (Jupiter and Saturn), which differ from each other in a number of fundamental ways. Uranus, in particular is the most challenging to our understanding of planetary formation and evolution, with its large obliquity, low self-luminosity, highly asymmetrical internal field, and puzzling internal structure. Uranus also has a rich planetary system consisting of a system of inner natural satellites and complex ring system, five major natural icy satellites, a system of irregular moons with varied dynamical histories, and a highly asymmetrical magnetosphere. Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have explored Uranus, with a flyby in 1986, and no mission is currently planned to this enigmatic system. However, a mission to the uranian system would open a new window on the origin and evolution of the Solar System and would provide crucial information on a wide variety of physicochemical processes in our Solar System. These have clear implications for understanding exoplanetary systems. In this paper we describe the science case for an orbital mission to Uranus with an atmospheric entry probe to sample the composition and atmospheric physics in Uranus’ atmosphere. The characteristics of such an orbiter and a strawman scientific payload are described and we discuss the technical challenges for such a mission. This paper is based on a white paper submitted to the European Space Agency's call for science themes for its large-class mission programme in 2013. [less ▲]

From 27 to 28 January 2009, the Cassini spacecraft remotely acquired combined observations of Saturn's southern aurorae at radio, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths, while monitoring ion injections in the middle magnetosphere from energetic neutral atoms. Simultaneous measurements included the sampling of a full planetary rotation, a relevant timescale to investigate auroral emissions driven by processes internal to the magnetosphere. In addition, this interval coincidentally matched a powerful substorm-like event in the magnetotail, which induced an overall dawnside intensification of the magnetospheric and auroral activity. We comparatively analyze this unique set of measurements to reach a comprehensive view of kronian auroral processes over the investigated timescale. We identify three source regions for the atmospheric aurorae, including a main oval associated with the bulk of Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR), together with polar and equatorward emissions. These observations reveal the coexistence of corotational and subcorototational dynamics of emissions associated with the main auroral oval. Precisely, we show that the atmospheric main oval hosts short-lived subcorotating isolated features together with a bright, longitudinally extended, corotating region locked at the southern SKR phase. We assign the substorm-like event to a regular, internally driven, nightside ion injection possibly triggered by a plasmoid ejection. We also investigate the total auroral energy budget, from the power input to the atmosphere, characterized by precipitating electrons up to 20 keV, to its dissipation through the various radiating processes. Finally, through simulations, we confirm the search-light nature of the SKR rotational modulation and we show that SKR arcs relate to isolated auroral spots. We characterize which radio sources are visible from the spacecraft and we estimate the fraction of visible southern power to a few percent. The resulting findings are discussed in the frame of pending questions as the persistence of a corotating field-aligned current system within a subcorotating magnetospheric cold plasma, the occurrence of plasmoid activity, and the comparison of auroral fluxes radiated at different wavelengths. [less ▲]

Following magnetic reconnection in a planetary magnetotail, newly closed field lines can be rapidly accelerated back towards the planet, becoming "dipolarized" in the process. At Saturn, dipolarizations ... [more ▼]

Following magnetic reconnection in a planetary magnetotail, newly closed field lines can be rapidly accelerated back towards the planet, becoming "dipolarized" in the process. At Saturn, dipolarizations can be initially identified from the magnetometer data by looking for a southward turning of the magnetic field, indicating the transition from a radially stretched configuration to a more dipolar field topology. The highly stretched geometry of the kronian magnetotail lobes gives rise to a tail current which flows eastward (dusk to dawn) in the near equatorial plane across the centre of the tail. During reconnection and associated dipolarization of the field, the inner edge of this tail current can be diverted through the ionosphere, in a situation analogous to the substorm current wedge picture at Earth [McPherron et al. 1973]. We present a picture of the current circuit arising from this tail reconfiguration, and outline the equations which govern the field-current relationship. We show a number of examples of dipolarizations as identified in the Cassini magnetometer data and use this formalism to calculate limits for the ionospheric current density that would arise for these examples. In addition to the magnetometer data, we also present data from the Cassini VIMS and UVIS instruments which have observed small 'spots' of auroral emission lying near the main oval - features thought to be associated with dipolarizations in the tail. We compare the auroral intensities as predicted from our calculation with the observed spot sizes and intensities. [less ▲]

The stunning views of the kronian aurora captured by the Visual and Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft continues to provide crucial observations of the fervent interaction ... [more ▼]

The stunning views of the kronian aurora captured by the Visual and Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft continues to provide crucial observations of the fervent interaction between the upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere of Saturn. Here, we present recent findings of VIMS auroral research, which includes both statistical studies and case studies of auroral events and morphology. In addition to stand-alone observations, there is a small subset of VIMS observations during which UVIS was also acquiring data. These observations enable the comparison between observations of H, H2 in the ultraviolet and H3+ in the infrared that are both spatially overlapping and temporally simultaneous. Whilst emission tends to coincide for these three species on the main oval, there are significant differences both pole-ward and equator-ward, such that observations of H and H2 is generally a poor proxy for emissions of H3+. VIMS is sensitive to infrared thermal emission from the H3+ molecule, which is formed very efficiently via the ionisation of H2. Therefore, the morphology of H3+ emission becomes a tracer of energy injected into the upper atmosphere - the most striking of which is auroral particle precipitation. [less ▲]

Here, temporally simultaneous and spatially overlapping Cassini VIMS and UVIS observations of Saturn's southern aurora are presented. The pointing is fixed at a constant local time of 04:55, covering ... [more ▼]

Here, temporally simultaneous and spatially overlapping Cassini VIMS and UVIS observations of Saturn's southern aurora are presented. The pointing is fixed at a constant local time of 04:55, covering latitudes between 64°S and 82°S and longitudes between 127° and 186°. The spatial resolution is high, with 1 mrad covering ˜300 km, such that only a small part of the pre-dawn aurora is observed. Ultraviolet auroral H and H2 emissions from UVIS are compared to infrared H+3 emission from VIMS. The auroral emission is structured into three arcs - H, H2 and H+3 are morphologically identical in the bright main auroral oval (˜73°S), but there is an equatorward arc that is seen predominantly in H (˜70°S), and a poleward arc (˜74°S) that is seen mainly in H2 and H+3 . These observations indicate that, for the main auroral oval, the UV emission is a good proxy for the infrared H+3 morphology (and vice versa), but for emission either poleward or equatorward this is no longer true. Hence, given the highly dynamic nature of the aurora of Saturn, simultaneous UV/IR observations are crucial for completing the picture of how the atmosphere interacts with the magnetosphere. [less ▲]

Here, for the first time, temporally coincident and spatially overlapping Cassini VIMS and UVIS observations of Saturn's southern aurora are presented. Ultraviolet auroral H and H[SUB]2[/SUB] emissions ... [more ▼]

Here, for the first time, temporally coincident and spatially overlapping Cassini VIMS and UVIS observations of Saturn's southern aurora are presented. Ultraviolet auroral H and H[SUB]2[/SUB] emissions from UVIS are compared to infrared H[SUB]3[/SUB][SUP]+[/SUP] emission from VIMS. The auroral emission is structured into three arcs - H, H[SUB]2[/SUB] and H[SUB]3[/SUB][SUP]+[/SUP] are morphologically identical in the bright main auroral oval (˜73°S), but there is an equatorward arc that is seen predominantly in H (˜70°S), and a poleward arc (˜74°S) that is seen mainly in H[SUB]2[/SUB] and H[SUB]3[/SUB][SUP]+[/SUP]. These observations indicate that, for the main auroral oval, UV emission is a good proxy for the infrared H[SUB]3[/SUB][SUP]+[/SUP] morphology (and vice versa), but for emission either poleward or equatorward this is no longer true. Hence, simultaneous UV/IR observations are crucial for completing the picture of how the atmosphere interacts with the magnetosphere. [less ▲]

Observations of Saturn's infrared aurorae have shown that in addition to the main auroral oval, which is believed to be associated with the solar wind, there are significant polar emissions. Ground-based ... [more ▼]

Observations of Saturn's infrared aurorae have shown that in addition to the main auroral oval, which is believed to be associated with the solar wind, there are significant polar emissions. Ground-based infrared observations of Saturn have been able to show that there is a general level of raised emission across the entire polar region, in a similar way to that seen at Jupiter. However, with direct observations of the aurora made from orbit around Saturn by the Cassini-VIMS instrument, this aurora was shown to be more than a relative generalised brightening in the infrared. Instead, a unique auroral feature was observed to occur, appearing as a large region of bright polar emission, positioned poleward of 82 degrees latitude. This Bright Polar Aurora emission is significantly different from the recently observed subrotating Q-branch auroral emission seen in both the ultraviolet and infrared, as it is separated from the main auroral oval by a region of low emission. This effectively produces a cap of bright aurora inside the main auroral oval, surrounded by a dark ring that separates the two aurorae. Here, we take a more detailed look at this cap of emission and examine the way the auroral feature develops with time. Bright Polar Aurora emission has been observed in two separate VIMS images. A more detailed analysis of the polar emission shows that each of these images in fact differs in structure; the first has auroral emission across the whole polar cap >82 degrees, but within the second the emission is concentrated on the dusk side. While the dramatic in-filling of the polar cap is not seen within any UV observations, the Hubble Space Telescope has observed transitory duskward auroral features within the polar cap, in a similar location to the duskward feature seen in the infrared. Using ground-based infrared observations, which allow a Bright Polar Aurora event to be broken into shorter timescale steps, it is possible analyse the progression of the infrared auroral emission with time, connecting the morphology seen within the two VIMS images with those in the ultraviolet. [less ▲]

We present an analysis of a series of observations of the auroral/polar regions of Jupiter, carried out between September 8 and 11, 1998, making use of the high-resolution spectrometer, CSHELL, on the ... [more ▼]

We present an analysis of a series of observations of the auroral/polar regions of Jupiter, carried out between September 8 and 11, 1998, making use of the high-resolution spectrometer, CSHELL, on the NASA InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF), Mauna Kea, Hawaii; these observations spanned an ``auroral heating event". This analysis combines the measured line intensities and ion velocities with a one-dimensional model of the jovian thermosphere/ionosphere (Grodent et al. 2001). We compute the model line intensities both assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and, relaxing this condition (non-LTE), through detailed balance calculations (Oka et al. 2004), in order to compare with the observations. Taking the model parameters derived, we calculate the changes in heating rate required to account for the modeled temperature profiles that are consistent with the measured line intensities. Comparison of the various heating and cooling terms enables us to investigate the balance of energy inputs into the auroral/polar atmosphere. Increases in Joule heating and ion drag are sufficient to explain the observed heating of the atmosphere; increased particle precipitation makes only a minor heating contribution. But local cooling effects - predominantly H[SUB]3[SUP]+[/SUP][/SUB] radiation-to-space - are shown to be too inefficient to allow the atmosphere to relax back to pre-event thermal conditions. Thus we conclude that this event provides observational, i.e. empirical, evidence that heat must be transported away from the auroral/polar regions by thermally or mechanically driven winds. [less ▲]

Recently, Stallard and coworkers observed an event in Jupiter's auroral polar regions that resulted in a temperature increase of around 125K during the period of approximately seven jovian rotations [1 ... [more ▼]

Recently, Stallard and coworkers observed an event in Jupiter's auroral polar regions that resulted in a temperature increase of around 125K during the period of approximately seven jovian rotations [1]. This "auroral event" involves a great deal of energy being deposited in the upper atmosphere - up to 250mW m[SUP]-2[/SUP]. Stallard et al. made these measurements using H_3^+ emission lines from the fundamental (v=1 rightarrow 0) and hotband (v=2 rightarrow 1) manifolds around 4μm. In this poster, we use the temperature profiles developed by Grodent and coworkers [2] in their one-dimensional model of the jovian aurorae to demonstrate that the lines used by Stallard et al. are formed at different altitudes in the atmosphere: the hotband is formed higher than the fundamental. We show a series of profiles, based on Grodent {et al.}'s original model that can be used to interpret future jovian spectra. [1] T. Stallard et al., 2002. Icarus 156, 498-514. [2] D. Grodent, J. Hunter Waite Jr. and J.-C. G&{acute;e}rard, 2001. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 12933-12952. [less ▲]